The owner of a Los Angeles pawn shop has been indicted on charges of conspiracy and the interstate transportation of stolen goods. The indictment accuses Glenn Steven Bednarsh, 58, originally from Beverly Hills, of scheming to sell a stolen Andy Warhol trial proof and later misrepresenting facts concerning the sale to federal agents.
According to court documents, in February 2021, Bednarsh purchased the stolen Warhol trial proof depicting Vladimir Lenin for $6,000, although the piece is valued at approximately $175,000. The indictment alleges that Bednarsh collaborated with Brian Alec Light, 58, to sell the artwork through a Dallas-based auction house.
The trial proof was transported to the auction house’s Beverly Hills office in March 2021, and subsequently, Light signed a consignment agreement electronically and inquired about a cash advance on the art piece. An employee in Dallas reached out to a West Hollywood gallery for verification, leading to the discovery that the Warhol trial proof was stolen, prompting a notification to both the auction house and the FBI.
When questioned by the FBI, Light falsely claimed that he acquired the artwork for $18,000 at a Culver City garage sale, even providing a fake receipt. Meanwhile, Bednarsh also allegedly misled federal agents by claiming he was storing the piece for Light without the intention of financial benefit.
An indictment signifies that charges have been placed, but all accused parties are considered innocent until guilt is established in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Light has already pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods in November 2024. His sentencing is scheduled for May 27, with a potential maximum sentence of 10 years.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team is managing the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorneys Erik M. Silber and Matthew W. O’Brien spearheading the prosecution.